Space saving,fast erecting,disposable pizza container

ABSTRACT

An embodiment of the present invention is a pizza pie container that is in a defined distribution mode. The pizza container comprises a bottom with four sidewalls and a lid. Each sidewall is elongated with two outer ends. Each outer end of at least one sidewall is non-detachably connected to an outer end of another sidewall thereby non-detachably connecting at least three of the sidewalls to each other. The lid connects to at least one of the sidewalls and comprises at least one flap to facilitate lid closure. The container is formed from a material having a predetermined means to enhance rigidity of the container to resist distortion of the container when held or transported. The material also has a predetermined means of insulation to resist heat transfer from a pizza through the container. The container is further formed wherein the at least three connecting sidewalls are positioned lying down for space reduction of the container prior to usage thereof yet may be erectable upright, simultaneously, in quick preparation of container usage thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to food storage containers, particularly food storage containers for freshly baked pizza pies, and most particularly for disposable, food storage containers for freshly baked pizza pies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pizza is a food enjoyed around the world by many people and a pizza pie is often stored and transported in a pizza box. In distribution form, a pizza box is generally a pre-cut, pre-scored piece of cardboard sold to restaurants and pizza stores etc. “Distribution form” shall be defined herein as the form in which the pizza box or container is distributed to restaurants and/or pizza stores etc.

When a hot pizza comes out of the oven it is usually impractical and relatively time consuming to fold, manipulate and assemble the pre-cut, pre-scored piece of cardboard into an assembled, fully ready pizza box. So, these boxes are often folded, manipulated and assembled ahead of time by those at restaurants and pizza stores etc. because it's much easier and more practical for someone to remove a freshly baked pizza pie from the oven and drop it in an already assembled pizza box. Unfortunately, this method of preparing and assembling pizza boxes ahead of time requires a lot of available storage space in the kitchen cooking area where space is at premium. In other words, a typical fully assembled and ready pizza box may take more than five times the storage space of the pizza box in its distribution form when it is was just a relatively flat piece of cardboard. Therefore, there is a need for a better pizza box, one that requires minimal storage space, yet may be made fully ready in seconds or instantly for the containerization of a freshly baked pizza pie.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is a container formed to contain a freshly baked pizza pie. The container is in a defined, distribution form comprising a bottom with four sidewalls and a lid. Each sidewall is elongated with two outer ends. Each outer end of at least one sidewall non-detachably connects to an outer end of another sidewall thereby non-detachably connecting at least three of the sidewalls to each other. The lid connects to at least one of the sidewalls and comprises at least one flap to facilitate lid closure. The container is further formed from a material having a predetermined means to enhance rigidity of the container to resist distortion of the container when being held or transported. The material further has a predetermined means of insulation to resist heat transfer from the pizza through the container. The container is further formed wherein the at least three connecting sidewalls are positioned lying down for space reduction of the container prior to usage thereof yet may be erectable upright, simultaneously, in quick preparation of container usage thereof.

Relative to the present invention above, applicant considers the following objectives:

It is an important objective of the present invention pizza container that it be space-efficient while in a defined distribution form for shipping and handling purposes; and,

it is another important objective of the present invention that it be space-efficient while in a defined distribution form so that it may be stacked and stored in a kitchen or cooking environment where available space is at a premium value; and,

it is another important objective of the present invention that it may be made ready quickly or instantly for usage thereof; and,

it is another important objective of the present invention that it be formed from a material having at least one predetermined means to provide some rigidity so that a freshly baked pizza may be stored, handled and delivered without compromising the pizza pie and/or container; and,

it is another important objective of the present invention that it be formed from a material having at least one predetermined means to provide some insulation to insulate heat from a freshly baked pizza pie from a person handling or transporting the pizza container; and,

it is yet another important objective of the present invention that it be cost-efficient to manufacture so that it is cost-competitive and commercially viable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a prior art pizza box in a defined distribution form; and,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the pizza box shown in FIG. 1 in an assembled form; and,

FIG. 3 shows a top view of another prior art pizza box in a defined distribution form and prior to assembly; and,

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the pizza box shown in FIG. 3 in an assembled form; and,

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention pizza box in a defined distribution form; and,

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the present invention pizza box shown in FIG. 5 with the bottom sidewalls partially erected upright; and,

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the present invention pizza box shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the bottom sidewalls fully erected upright; and,

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention pizza box with all four sidewalls nondetachably connected to each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various drawings provided herein are for the purpose of illustrating possible embodiments of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting same. Therefore, the drawings herein represent only a few of the many possible embodiments and/or variations of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a top view of a prior art pizza box in a defined distribution form is shown. Once again, “distribution form” shall be defined herein as the form or mode in which the pizza box or container is distributed to restaurants and/or pizza stores etc. Most pizza boxes are distributed to restaurants and/or pizza stores as precut pieces of cardboard that are creased and/or pre-scored at fold lines for manipulation and assembly. In this Figure, pizza box 1 has a bottom 3 with four sidewalls 5, 7, 9 and 11, and a lid 13. Lid 13 has flaps 12, 14 and 16 to help facilitate closure of lid 13 when pizza box 1 is fully assembled. Pizza Box 1 also has built in vents such as vent 15. Each sidewall is elongated with two outer ends as shown. There is cut slit 6 separating sidewall 5 from sidewall 7; and cut slit 10 separating sidewall 7 from sidewall 9; and cut slit 8 separating sidewall 9 from sidewall 11; and, cut slit 4 separating sidewall 11 from sidewall 5. In other words, the outer ends of sidewall 5 do not connect the outer ends of side walls 7 and 11 because of cut slits 6 and 4 respectively. Likewise, the outer ends of sidewall 9 do not connect the outer ends of side walls 7 and 11 because of cut slits 10 and 8 respectively. This arrangement wherein the outer ends of each sidewall do not connect to another sidewall is typical of the prior art pizza boxes and containers, especially in a defined distribution form. Accordingly, this type of pizza box must be folded, manipulated and assembled to achieve the assembled box shown in FIG. 2. When a hot pizza pie comes out of the oven it is usually impractical and relatively time consuming to fold, manipulate and assemble pizza box 1 into a fully ready pizza box. So, these boxes are often folded, bent and assembled ahead of time because it's much easier and more practical for someone to remove a freshly baked pizza pie from the oven and drop it into an already assembled pizza box. Unfortunately, this method of preparing and assembling pizza boxes ahead of time requires a lot of available storage space in the kitchen cooking area where space is at premium. In fact, a typical fully assembled and ready pizza box may take more than five times the storage space of the same pizza box in distribution form when it's simply a relatively flat piece of cardboard. Therefore, there is a need for a better pizza box, one that requires minimal storage space, yet may be made fully ready in seconds or instantly for the containerization of a freshly baked pizza pie.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the pizza box 1 shown in FIG. 1, in an assembled form. “Assembled form” shall be defined herein as the form in which the pizza box is fully assembled and ready to receive a freshly baked pizza pie.

In FIG. 3, a top view of another prior art pizza box in a defined distribution form is shown. In this Figure, pizza box 21 has a bottom 23 with four sidewalls 25, 27, 29 and 31, and a lid 33. Lid 33 has flaps 32, 34 and 36 to help facilitate closure of lid 33 when pizza box 21 is fully assembled. Pizza Box 21 also has built in vents such as vent 35. Each sidewall is elongated with two outer ends as shown. There is cut slit 26 separating sidewall 25 from sidewall 27; and, there is cut slit 30 separating sidewall 27 from sidewall 29; and, there is cut slit 28 separating sidewall 29 from sidewall 31; and, there is cut slit 24 separating sidewall 31 from sidewall 35. In other words, the outer ends of sidewall 25 do not connect the outer ends of side walls 27 and 31 because of cut slits 26 and 24 respectively. Likewise, the outer ends of sidewall 29 do not connect the outer ends of side walls 27 and 31 because of cut slits 30 and 28 respectively. This arrangement wherein the outer ends of each sidewall do not connect to another sidewall is typical of the prior art pizza boxes and containers, especially in a defined distribution form. Accordingly, this type of pizza box must be folded, manipulated and assembled to achieve the assembled box shown in FIG. 4. However, when a hot pizza comes out of the oven it is usually impractical and relatively time consuming to fold, manipulate and assemble the pre-cut, pre-scored piece of cardboard into an assembled, fully ready pizza box. So, these boxes are often folded, bent and assembled ahead of time because it's much easier and more practical for someone to remove a freshly baked pizza pie from the oven and drop it into an already assembled pizza box. Unfortunately, this method of preparing and assembling pizza boxes ahead of time requires a lot of available storage space in the kitchen cooking area where space is at premium. In other words, a typical fully assembled and ready pizza box may take more than five times the storage space of the same pizza box in distribution form when it is simply a relatively flat precut, pre-scored piece of cardboard.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the pizza box 21 shown in FIG. 3, in an assembled form.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of an embodiment of the present invention pizza box in a defined distribution form. In this Figure, container 41 is a pizza box formed to contain a freshly baked pizza pie. Pizza box 41 comprises a bottom 43 with four sidewalls 45, 47, 49 and 51, and a lid 53. Each sidewall is elongated with two outer ends as shown. Each outer end of at least one sidewall non-detachably connects to an outer end of another sidewall thereby non-detachably connecting at least three of the sidewalls to each other. “Nondetachably connected” shall be defined herein as being connected with the purpose of not being detachable. In this FIG. 5, sidewall 49 has outer ends 48 and 50. Outer end 48 connects to outer end 42 of sidewall 51, and, outer end 50 connects to outer end 46 of sidewall 47 as shown. Accordingly, sidewalls 47, 49 and 51 are all non-detachable connected to each other, in a distribution form as shown. Once again, “distribution form” shall be defined herein as the form or mode in which the pizza box or container is distributed to restaurants and/or pizza stores etc. Lid 53 connects to sidewall 45 and has vents such as vents 55 and 57. Lid 53 also has flaps 52, 54 and 56 to help facilitate closure of lid 53 when bottom sidewalls 47, 49 and 51 have been erected upright. Pizza box 41 is further formed wherein the three connecting sidewalls 47, 49 and 51 are positioned lying down, in distribution form, for space reduction of the container prior to usage thereof yet sidewalls 47, 49 and 51 may be erectable upright, simultaneously in quick preparation of container usage thereof. Therefore, the present invention is a better pizza box, one that requires minimal storage space, yet may be made fully ready in seconds or instantly for the containerization of a freshly baked pizza pie.

In all embodiments of the present invention, the boxes or containers are formed from a material having at least one predetermined means to enhance rigidity of the container to resist distortion of the container when being held or transported. This simply means that the box is not made from a material inappropriate for the weight, heat, moisture etc. of a fresh pizza pie. For example, the at least one means could simply be that the material is corrugated with small or large corrugation. Or, the material could have increased thickness or ply or any other device and/or means that may provide a reasonable rigidity sufficient to resist distortion of the container when being held or transported. In addition, the boxes or containers of the present invention are formed from a material having at least one predetermined means of insulation to resist heat transfer from the pizza through the container. This means of insulation could simply be that the material is corrugated with small or large corrugation. Or, the material could have increased thickness or ply or any other device or means that may resist heat transfer from a hot pizza pie through the container. In other words, a corrugated cardboard is an excellent example of a material that could be used for the present invention with such material providing for both a reasonable rigidity and insulation.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the present invention pizza box 41 shown in FIG. 5 with all corresponding reference numbers. In this Figure, sidewalls 47, 49 and 51 are shown partially erected upright.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the present invention pizza box 41 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 in a fully assembled form. In this Figure, sidewalls 47, 49 and 51 fully erected upright. Looking at FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 together, its easy to see that box 41 may be transformed from its compact distribution form to a fully ready and assembled pizza box in a matter of seconds, if not instantly. A number of creases such as crease 58 are, for example, a means by which the three nondetachably connected sidewalls may be positioned lying down for distribution and storage, and then simultaneously erected upright for immediate usage of the container thereof.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention pizza container wherein pizza box 61 has sidewalls 63, 65, 67 and 69 all nondetachably connected to each other. Sidewall 63 is connected to sidewall 65 at connection 73; and, sidewall 65 is connected to sidewall 67 at connection 75; and, sidewall 67 is connected to sidewall 69 at connection 77; and, sidewall 69 is connected to sidewall 63 at connection 71. These connections can be achieved in many different ways for example, the sidewalls may overlap and be glued and/or stapled etc. Alternatively, the sidewalls could be made from a continuous one piece strip and then creased, scored and/or pre-folded etc. A number of creases such as crease 79 are, for example, a means by which the four nondetachably connected sidewalls may be positioned lying down for distribution and storage, and then simultaneously erected upright for immediate usage thereof.

Although illustrative embodiments have been described herein in detail, it should be noted and will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous variations may be made within the scope of this invention without departing from the principles and chief advantages of this invention. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the terms and expressions have been used herein as terms of description and not limitation. There is no intention to use the terms or expressions to exclude any equivalents of features shown and described or portions thereof, and this invention should be predetermined in accordance with the claims that follow, or the equivalence thereof. 

1. A pizza pie container in a defined distribution mode comprising a bottom with four sidewalls and a lid, each said sidewall being elongated with two outer ends, each outer end of at least one said sidewall non-detachably connecting to an outer end of another sidewall thereby non-detachably connecting at least three of said sidewalls to each other, said lid connecting to at least one of said sidewalls and comprising at least one flap to facilitate lid closure, said container being formed from a material having a predetermined means to enhance rigidity of said container to resist distortion of said container when being held or transported, said material further having a predetermined means of insulation to resist heat transfer from a pizza pie through said container, said container further being formed wherein said at least three connecting sidewalls are positioned lying down for space reduction of said container prior to usage thereof yet may be erectable upright, simultaneously, in quick preparation of container usage thereof.
 2. A container of claim 1, wherein said material is a corrugated type material.
 3. A container of claim 1, wherein there is a total of at least two creases formed in said three connecting sidewalls thereby providing the means for the three connecting sidewalls to be positioned lying down and then upright.
 4. A container of claim 1, wherein said container further comprises means to hold said three connecting sidewalls in the upright position after they have been simultaneously erected.
 5. A container of claim 1, wherein said lid has three flaps, with each said flap having two outer ends non-connecting to another flap.
 6. A container of claim 1, wherein said container is formed having at least one vent to vent evaporative gases of said freshly baked pizza.
 7. A container of claim 2, wherein there is a total of at least two creases formed in said three connecting sidewalls thereby providing the means for the three connecting sidewalls to be positioned lying down and then upright.
 8. A container of claim 2, wherein said container further comprises means to hold said three connecting sidewalls in the upright position after they have been simultaneously erected.
 9. A container of claim 2, wherein said lid has three flaps, with each said flap having two outer ends non-connecting to another flap.
 10. A container of claim 2, wherein said container is formed having at least one vent to vent evaporative gases of said freshly baked pizza.
 11. A pizza pie container in a defined distribution mode comprising a bottom with four sidewalls and a lid, each said sidewall being elongated with two outer ends, each outer end of at least two of said sidewalls non-detachably connecting to an outer end of another sidewall thereby non-detachably connecting four of said sidewalls to each other, said lid connecting to at least one of said sidewalls and comprising at least one flap to facilitate lid closure, said container being formed from a material having a predetermined means to enhance rigidity of said container to resist distortion of said container when being held or transported, said material further having a predetermined means of insulation to resist heat transfer from a pizza pie through said container, said container further being formed wherein said four connecting sidewalls are positioned lying down for space reduction of said container prior to usage thereof yet may be erectable upright, simultaneously, in quick preparation of container usage thereof.
 12. A container of claim 11, wherein said material is a corrugated type material.
 13. A container of claim 11, wherein there is a total of at least four creases formed in said four connecting sidewalls thereby providing the means for the four connecting sidewalls to be positioned lying down and then upright.
 14. A container of claim 11, wherein said container further comprises means to hold said four connecting sidewalls in the upright position after they have been simultaneously erected.
 15. A container of claim 11, wherein said lid has three flaps, with each said flap having two outer ends non-connecting to another flap.
 16. A container of claim 11, wherein said container is formed having at least one vent to vent evaporative gases of said freshly baked pizza.
 17. A container of claim 12, wherein there is a total of at least four creases formed in said four sidewalls thereby providing the means for the four connecting sidewalls to be positioned lying down and then upright.
 18. A container of claim 12, wherein said container further comprises means to hold said four connecting sidewalls in the upright position after they have been simultaneously erected.
 19. A container of claim 12, wherein said lid has three flaps, with each said flap having two outer ends non-connecting to another flap.
 20. A container of claim 12, wherein said container is formed having at least one vent to vent evaporative gases of said freshly baked pizza. 